Ammunition dispensing device



Jam 9, 1962 w. H. RICHARDS, JR., vETAI. 3,016,167

AMMUNITION DISPENSING DEVICE Filed D60. l5, 1958 i BY 5mg, fw Aj/M /4GEA/r United States. Patent dice 3,016,167 Patentedl Jan.A 9, 1962 Thisinvention has to do with an ammunition dispensing `device and isparticularly concerned with4 the storage of a substantial supply ofcartridges and the dispensing of any desired number thereof, a generalobject of this invention being to provide a small compact and reliabledevice of the type under consideration that is operable to deliverammunition cartridges lone at' a time and to deliver them continuouslyin any desired number, as circumstances require.

The handling ofv iire arms requires the manipulation. and installationof cartridges into the breech or magazine of the gun being, loaded, and'usually requires theloading of one or more of said'v cartridges; Someguns are loaded with but one round or cartridge of ammunition Whileothers are. loaded with as manyv as, for example, 17 cartridges. Inpractice, a wide variety of g-uns are used andv ammunition or cartridgesare purchased' and/or supplied in boxes, for, example,y 50 roundsofammunition per box. v

An object of this invention is to lprovide a device that dispenses ordischarges cartridges of ammunition, one at `a time and in anydesirednumber from a-` storeofasubstantial number. of said' cartridges.v

` Another object of this invention is to provide a manually operablecartridge dispensing device that selects and discharges cartridges oneat a time fromV a storeV thereof, and'in rapid succession whennecessary.

It is anobject of this invention to provide a dispensingdevice of thetype under consideration thatv ejectscar` tridges one at a time andwherein the mechanism involved is indexed so as to assuredischarge andejectionof only one cartridge at a,time. More specifically, themechanism that we provide involves a single means' which acts to bothindex 'and` to eject the cartridges `from the device.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a dispenser ofthe type; above referred to wherein the cartridges' are not, loose butare restrainedl from movement, to the end that the entire supply ofcartridges is securely held and prevented from rattling about.

An object of this invention is to provide a dispenser of the type abovereferred; to which is eas-ily; manufac- 2. Therefore, in the drawings wehave illustrated 22 calibre ammunition, or the like, each cartridge X'of:V which involves a case and aprojectile 11.v thatv are assembled,

- to for-m an elongatel cartridge X'; The assembled. car-- tridge is=lled with al measure of powder that i'si'gnited by a capA included inythe manufacture of the case; 10. The case 10 is a cylindrical'shelf-shaped element. open'. atA the front endf toI receive the rearportion; of-f the projectile 11, and closed atits. rear or base end'.where it: accommodates-a cap. Asv is the-case in 22 calibreammw. nition,the capiis accommodatedy at' or within the rim 1'22 of thevv case andiseasily sety off by theY percussion of ap `sharp blow. Thus the cartridgeX ischaracterizedliby--its elongate cylindricall shape, rounded," at thenosefzandflat at the base. Such acartridgeiscylindrical and substan,tiai'ly longer than its diameteigasshown."`

The' ammunition dispensing. ydevicethat wei have: prof. vided operabletostore. a substantially large number of cartridges X, for example, oneon moreboxesthereQ-fi The device isV operable to. eject. av single.round` of said; ammunition, or.v one` cartridgeI at a time,l andiinvolves, generally, a case A, transporting means; 13,; a followen meansC, indexing means 13;. and` eject-ingr means, E; The case A. isAprovided to contain a, supply of1 ammunition and acts as: the frame ofthe struc/ture;v 'lhetranse porting means Bv isprovidedtolshiftfthecartnidgestfrolrlV storage within" the case. A to:atpositionjwhere said cartridges are discharged froml thestructure. Thefollowerz means CA is provided toV yieldinglyaurge the;l cartridgestoward the means B andV to preventyrattling. thereof4 with`V in the caseA. The indexing means;Disinovidedv to si-tion the elements of the means.Bvv so.- as to assure.- dis@ charge of each round of ammunition whenYthe said means B is inthe dischargingposition;`

The case A thatA contains the supply;v of; cartridges X also actsV asthe-frame of the struct-ure and; can vary widely,

' in shape and' form as circumstances, require.y The. casetured, easilyemployed and used,'|which is easily operated and which is also safe anddependable.

The various objects and features of our inventionwill be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and applicationv of our invention, through-out whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, inwhicli:

FlG. lis a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of thepresenty invention and the manner in which cartridges are dispensedtherefrom.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser shown in FG. l.

PEG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line y A is shown as a.vertically disposed boxflike element rece tangular in form andestablishing astoragegchamber 2.0;1 The case A involves twov shell-likesections; 1:5 and- 1,6, preferably substantially identical sections,fitted togethen with a cement orv an adhesive along av jointfor-seam 17. The case A has front and back'walls 2-1 and 22, andside Walls 23'-and 2.4. The chamber 20E isfdeiined by the above; mentioned walls 2].-24and is; closed'; at its upper and? lower ends by a top 25 and a bottom26, respectively; The walls 21' and 22' are Yspaced to accommodate the;longitudinal dimension of the cartridgesX while the remaining sidelWalls top andv bottom, are spacedY to establish` the; chamber 20 of thedesiredzcapacity. In practice, the side walls Z3l and 24. are spaced toaccommodate, iive ornsixI cartridges X side by side, while the ytop andybottom 25 and 26. are spaced to `accommodate a column of about tenvrounds, or more, of ammunition- As; shown, the front and back Walls 21and 22A and sides. 23 and- 24 slidably engage the cartridges lX whilethe bottomv 26 is provided with features that cooperatively engage withythetransporting means B. rIl'he top- 25 simply forms. a closure, all tothe end that the cartridges X are enclosed and; protected sothaty theyare kept clean and ready for use.

In carrying out the invention theA case Av is provided Vwith a closure27, it being preferred toopen substantially of the seam 17. i As shown,the closure 27 ris snapped Y into position, there. being al pair ofdetent-type snaps 2,9

` acting as hinges anda snap 30 acting as a lock. The

amener closure 27 can be released at the snap 30 and swung outwardly onthe hinge snaps 29, or the closure 27 can be completely removed from thecase A, as desired. In any case, the chamber 20 is readily accessible tobe filled or emptied.

The transporting means B that shifts the cartridges X is adapted toreceive the cartridges at the bottom of the chamber 20 and to removeeach individual cartridge X to a discharge position where it is ejectedeither by gravity or by mechanical means, as later described. A featureof the dispensing device that we provide is the transporting means Bwhich is a shiftable element, preferably manually shiftable, and whichis a rotary element involving a drum 35 rotatably carried by the case Aand operating in a cylinder 40 formed in the bottom 26 of the case. Thedrum 35 substantially occupies the cross section of the case A and is onan axis that extends horizontally between the front and back walls 21and 22. The drum 35 is, therefore, of a length to extend between thewalls 21 and 22 and has front and back ends 36 land 37 opposed to thesaid walls 21 and 22, respectively. Further, the drum 35 is of adiameter to tangentially oppose the sides 23 and 24, respectively. Inaccordance with the invention, the cylinder 40 has a bottom wall 41 toclose the chamber 20 and to have slidingengagement with the periphery ofthe drum 35, said wall 41 tangentially mergingpvvith the two sides 23and 24.

The drum, as above described, is provided with radially opening pockets3 8, said pockets being shaped and proportionedt receive individualcartridges X. There is a series of equally spaced pockets 38, forexample, eight such pockets, said pockets extending parallel with eachother and with the axis of the drum 35, In the particular caseillustrated, thepockets 38 have concave bottoms 39 and spaced opposedparallel sides 42,' said pockets being adapted to freely laccommodateland receive the cartridges X.

The bottom 26 of the case A is characterized by a discharge opening 43formed `therein and which aligns with a pocket 38 when the pocket ispositioned by the drum 35 to discharge a cartridge X. In the caseillustrated, the drur 35 isvrotatably supported by end trunnions 44 thatengage in bearing openings in the walls 21 and 22. As the drum 35 isrotated the upwardly faced pockets 38 receive cartridges X carrying themcircumferentially to the central portion of the bottom 26 where thepockets open into the discharge opening 43. The cartridges X areconfined to the pockets 38 by the wall 41 until released into thedischarge opening 43, as by action of gravity, or the like.

s the drum 35, above described, rotates, it is assured of receiving acartridge X in each pocket 38 by means of an agitating action. That is,the initially empty pocket 38 moves upwardly when the drum 35 isrotated, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and thenmoves across the bottom of the supply o-f cartridges. Since thecartridges are supported by the drum 35 they readily fall into themoving 'pockets to be carried circumferentially and downwardly as thedrum continues to rotate. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, we provide alug 24' that projects from the Walls 24 to the periphery of the drum 35in order to prevent wedging of cartridges X into that corner.

The follower means C that yieldingly urges the cartridges X toward themeans B, above described, is provided to assure operation of the devicein any position -or in any attitude. It is readily apparent that gravityfeed lis suicient provided the device is used upright, however, :this isnot likely to be the casein every instance of operaition. Therefore, weprovide the means C which involves :a head Sil engageable with the topof the supply of ammunition andmeans 51 yieldingly urging the head 50toward the bottom 2,6 and drum 3'5 :that supports the supply ofammunition. As shown, the lhead 50 extends across the chamber 2G,preferably between the sides 23 and 24 and is guided between spacedshoulders 52 and 53 on the two sections 15 and 16 of the case A. In thisinstance, the means 51 is a spring means and we provide springs 53 and54, one at each side of the head 50, said springs being accommodated invertically disposed openings 55 land 56 formed in the sides 23 and 24,respectively. The openings 55 and 56 are substantially co-extensive withthe height of the device so that the springs 53 and 54 are anchored atthe bottom of the structure by means of pins, one spring being engagedwith an ear at each side of the head 5i). It will be apparent that theentire supply of cartridges X will be yieldingly urged toward thetransporting means B by operation of the head 50, thus eliminatinglooseness and assuring that the individual cartridges X will enter thepockets 3S.

The index means D that we provide is adapted to position the drum 35 sothat the pockets 38 align with the discharge opening 43. As shown, themeans D is a detent means and involves a biased element that engages inperipheral notches in the drum 35. In the form of the inventionillustrated, the drum 35 has a reduced portion, preferably at the centerthereof, said reduced portion having a continuous series of ratchetteeth 60 with inclined forward faces and substantially radially disposedrear faces. There is one tooth 60 for each pocket 38 and the biasedelement has a pawl 61 adapted to be lifted by the forward faces and -toengage behind the rear faces. Thus, the drum 35 can advance only and isheld in a fixed position when the pawl 61 is engaged behind a tooth 6ft.As shown, the radial extent of the teeth 60 is substantially inward ofthe bottoms 39 of the pockets 38.

The ejecting means E that we provide is adapted to assure that eachcartridge X is removed from the pocket 38 and discharged through theopening 43. A feature of the present invention is the incorporation ofmeans E in the means D and involves the use of the biasing element thatforms both the pawl 61 and a cam 70 of the means E. As shown, thebiasing element is in the form of a leaf spring having an elongate bodythat is substantially arcuate in form and bowed downwardly. The biasingelement is preferably made of at spring steel, or the like, some- 'whatcurved as above specified, and anchored to the case A at one end andfree at its other end. A slot-shaped recess is provided in the case A,centrally thereof, and between the two sections thereof, to receive anenlargement 71 at the end of the biasing element, said enlargement 71being in the form of a roll at the end of the leaf spring. The pawl 61is carried at the free end of the cam 70 to project radially inward,while the cam '70 bows downwardly into the pockets 38 as they advance tothe discharge opening 43. Since the cam is formed of a spring element itwill be compressed or deected somewhat and will throw the cartridge Xthrough vthe opening when the pocket 38 shifts sufficiently to releasesaid cartridge from confinement by the Wall 41. Any tendency for thecartridge X to stick or lodge in the pocket 38 is substantiallyeliminated by deflection and release of the cam 70.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have provided a practicaland reliable cartridge dispensing device that releases or dispenses onecartridge at a time and continuously. As best illustrated in FIGS. l and3 of the drawings, the drum 35 is rotatably advanced as controlled bythe indexing means E through operation of a control knob 75. The knob'75 is accessible at the front of the device and at the exteriorthereof, it being a simple matter to manually operate the knob 75 toadvance the drum 35 thereby discharging or ejecting any desired numberof cartridges. In order to support and carry the dispensing device, weprefer to provide a clip 76 suitable for fastening the case A to a belt'77, or the like. As shown, the clip 76 is a spring clip that overliesthe back wall 22 of the case and passes the belt 77.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves anyvariations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the artand fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A dispensing device 1for storing and for discharging cartridges oneat a time and including, a case with a cham-ber therein and ra dischargeopening in the bottom thereof, a transporting means to receivecartridges from the chamber and to shift them into alignment with thedischarge opening and comprising a drum rotatably carried on an axisextending across the case and disposed over the bottom, the drum havinga reduced peripheral portion and having a series of peripherally spacedpockets each adapted to receive a cartridge when faced upwardly and tocarry said cartridges to said discharge opening, and a cam on the caseand entering the reduced portion of the drum to engage and discharge thecartridges from each pocket as it is brought into alignment with thedischarge opening.

2. A dispensing device -for storing and for discharging cartridges oneat a time and including, a case with a chamber therein and a dischargeopeningin the bottom thereof, a transporting means to receive cartridgesfrom the chamber and to shift them into alignment with the dischargeopening and comprising a drum rotatably carried on an axis extendingacross the case and disposed over the bottom, the drum having a reducedperipheral portion and having a series of peripherally spaced pocketseach adapted to receive a cartridge when faced upwardly and to carrysaid cartridges to said discharge opening, and ejecting means comprisingan involute formed cam on the case and entering the reduced portion ofthe drum and engageable with each cartridge as it is brought intoalignment with the discharge opening. y

3. A dispensing device for storing and for discharging cartridges oneata time and including, a case with a cham- `ber therein and a dischargeopening in the bottom thereof, a transporting means -to receivecartridges from the chamber and to shift them into alignment with thedischarge opening and comprising a drum rotatably carried on an axisextending across the case and disposed over the bot-y tom and with aseries of peripherally spaced pockets each adapted to receive acartridge when faced upwardly and to carry said cartridges to saiddischarge opening, and an indexing and ejecting means comprising amember on the case and engageable with the drum to position the drumwith each successive pocket in alignment with said dis- 6 charge openingand engageable -with each cartridge as it is brought into alignment withsaid discharge opening.

4. A dispensing device for storing and for discharging cartridges one ata time and including, a case with a chamber therein and a dischargeopening in the bottom thereof, a transporting means to receivecartridges from the chamber and to shift them into alignment with thedischarge opening and comprising a drum rotatably carried on an axisextending across the case and disposed over the bottom and with a seriesof peripherally spaced pockets each adapted to receive a cartridge whenrfaced upwardly and to carry said cartridges tosaid discharge opening,and an indexing and ejecting means comprising an elongate -spring memberprojecting from the case and engageable with teeth on the drum toposition the drum with each successive pocket in alignment with saiddischarge opening and engageable with and depressed by each cartridgeas' it is brought into alignment with said discharge open- 111g.

5. A dispensing device Ifor storing and for discharging cartridges oneat a time and including, a case with a chamber therein and a dischargeopening in the bottom thereof, a transporting means to receivecartridges from the charnber and to shift them into alignment with thedischarge opening and comprising a drum rotatably carried on an axisextending across the case and disposed over the bottom and witharreduced central portion and a series of peripherally spaced pocketseach adapted to receive a cartridge when faced upwardly and to carrysaid cartridges to said discharge opening, and an indexing and ejectingmeans comprising an elongate spring member projecting from the case andoperable in the central portion of the drum and engageable with teeth onthe drum to position the drum with each successive pocket in alignmentwith said discharge opening and engageable with and depressed by eachcartridge as itis brought into alignment with said discharge opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS905,401 Billmeyer Dec. 1, 1908 1,374,354 Bruington Apr. 12, 19211,518,933 Kantor Dec. 9, 14924 1,610,717 Teabout et a1 Dec. 14, 19261,627,647 Hultenius May 10, 1927 1,653,286 Huggins Dec. 20, 19271,827,501 Alland Oct. 31, 1931 1,976,351 Matthiesen Oct. 9, 1934

